Pfc. Adam Lee Marion, of Mount Airy, was killed and one other N.C. Army National Guard Soldier from the 171st Engineer Company was wounded during an indirect fire attack on a base near Baghdad.
The wounded soldier is under medical treatment for non life threatening injuries.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Pfc. Adam Marion's family, and the family of our other Soldier wounded in this most recent attack as well as all the Soldiers and families of the 171st Sapper Company." said Maj. Gen. William E. Ingram, Jr., Adjutant General of the North Carolina National Guard. "These outstanding citizen-Soldiers are dedicated to serve our nation and protect us against a determined enemy. Although today we mourn, we are exceedingly thankful for brave men like Pfc. Adam Marion."
Marion entered military service in March of 2007 by joining the 883rd Engineer Company in Mount Airy as a Combat Engineer. After graduating Basic Training and Combat Engineer school in July 2007 he volunteered to mobilize and deploy with the 171st Engineer Company from St. Pauls North Carolina. At the 171st he was assigned as a "Husky" vehicle operator. The Husky vehicle leads improvised explosive device clearing operation convoys.
According to his platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Price, the Husky operators are chosen for their maturity and proven ability as a professional combat engineer. He said, "Pfc. Marion recently conducted route clearance in Sadr City, the most dangerous area of Baghdad, and his expertise resulted in finding multiple Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) as well as other explosives threats. His efforts and contributions saved countless coalition lives and have undoubtedly been felt throughout the theatre of operations. Pfc. Marion will be dearly missed by the Soldiers of the 171st Engineer Company."
Pfc. Marion was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terror Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Combat Action Badge, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/M Device, Army Service Ribbon, Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Overseas Service Bar.
The 171st mobilized in June 2007 with approximately 100 Soldiers and deployed to Baghdad in September. They are due to return to N.C. by this fall.
Marion is the tenth N.C. National Guard Soldier killed in action in the global war on terror since September 11, 2001.
The other soldiers killed were Sgt. Marcus C. Mathes, 26, of Zephyrhills, Fla., and Sgt. Mark A. Stone, 22, of Buchanan Dam, Texas. They were members of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Polk, La.
